Chelsea legend defends Hazard in Swansea ball-boy row

Thursday, January 24, 2013
8:58 AM

Former Chelsea and England striker Kerry Dixon has expressed sympathy towards Eden Hazard after the Belgian was sent off for kicking a Swansea ball-boy - but he admits that kind of behaviour isn’t welcome in football.

Hazard was sent off for lashing out at the ball-boy with around 10 minutes to go in last night’s Capital One Cup stalemate at the Liberty Stadium.

The police have confirmed they will be taking no action against Hazard but he is awaiting the verdict of the Football Association.

The incident came after the Chelsea star became frustrated at the ball-boy’s apparent refusal to return the ball.

“It’s an unfortunate incident without a shadow of a doubt,” Dixon said on Sky Sports News.

“Hazard will regret getting involved in the first place.

“I don’t think either party comes out of it very well.

“But I don’t think for one moment he meant to injure the young lad at all.

“I think he was trying to retrieve the ball,” he continued.

“With his team losing in that sort of situation you can understand his frustration, with possible time-wasting by the young man.

“But it isn’t the way to go about things, it has to be said.

“He got his punishment on the field and I personally hope that that’s as far as it goes.

“It’ s nice to see that both parties have apologised and I’m pleased to hear that the young man wasn’t injured.”